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Youth Prevention Tiktok Video Goes Viral

In 2020, Minnesotans ages 15-24 experienced a 26 percent increase in drug overdose deaths and those ages 25-34 experienced a 57 percent increase. Consequently, the Minnesota Department of Health identified a need to reach youth and young adults, warning them of the dangers of counterfeit pills and connecting them to harm reduction and treatment resources. The North Central HIDTA partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health to fund a youth prevention campaign. The campaign works in collaboration with an existing adult prevention campaign funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, called “Know the Dangers”. The youth campaign was co-created with local youth from two schools in the Twin Cities. The youth came up with ideas for content and were involved with casting videos and providing feedback on materials. The digital media campaign aimed to reach youth via Tik Tok, Snapchat, Google ads and Facebook/Instagram platforms. Ads directed the audience to the “Fentanyl Facts” website within the larger “Know the Dangers” website, which has an extensive set of resources including a naloxone finder map, treatment locator, overdose data and stories of hope from people who are in recovery.